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Old 02-24-2020, 01:05 PM   #1
MiniMe
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Default Lithium battery???

I have a 2010 TrailMini 18L. We need to replace the lead batteries and I'd prefer to get something where they can still be charged/topped off during storage with the shore power cable so that I don't have to pull the trailer out/open it to refill the water in the battery (read: maintenance free). I considered the sealed/gel type battery, but has anyone used a lithium RV battery? Pros/cons? What brand do you have?

Also, I noticed the lithiums are quite pricey, but if they perform better/last longer then it might be worth the cost?

Thanks!
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Old 02-25-2020, 09:59 AM   #2
Bill
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Just as another thought, you might consider a battery maintainer. Note that this is not the same as a "trickle charger", which is something to be avoided. You would need to disconnect the TM battery from the TM connections, and connect it to the maintainer's small cable. The maintainer can be mounted inside or outside the TM, as is most convenient for your situation. I don't think it is rain-proof, though.

The most important thing is that you do not leave the TM's built-in charger powered up and connected to the TM battery. Over a relatively long period of time, this does not work despite the advertising.

Among battery maintainers, I've had good luck with a Battery Tenda (aka Battery Tender). I bought the smallest one - 0.75 amp - and it is quite adequate provided you start with a fully charged battery. If you can't start with a fully charged battery, you might step up to the 1.5 amp version, but nothing higher is necessary. The 1.5 amp version will slowly bring your battery to full charge, and hold it there.

There are number of other battery tenders on the market that also produce good results. They have been discussed at some length here on the Forum. Use the search tool to find the discussions.

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Old 02-26-2020, 09:55 AM   #3
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Bill,

When you say the TM's built-in charger, are you talking about that T-handle knob that disconnects power from the battery and the outlets/appliances inside? When we recharge the batteries, we engage the T-handle so the batteries are "connected", and then plug it into shore power only for a day or two before unplugging it. We never leave it just plugged in otherwise and we disengage the T-handle to prevent phantom power drainage from the batteries. This is how the dealer told us to do it, but I just need a maintenance free battery.

Thanks!
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Old 02-26-2020, 11:01 AM   #4
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I'm not familiar with the T-handle - apparently Minis have a somewhat different configuration. My bottom-line take-away is that for long-term storage (more than a week, maybe) do not leave the battery connected to anything in the trailer. Not the charger, not the load panel - nothing. From your description, the T-handle sounds like it accomplishes this, but I just don't know. To be sure about it, I would simply pull the cable off the battery's positive post. Once the battery is completely disconnected, you can attach the maintainer cables directly to the battery posts (assuming a maintainer is your choice of approaches).

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Old 02-26-2020, 03:29 PM   #5
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Here's an interesting option. I'm not sure if anyone here has tried it, although I remember there was a discussion about the LiFePO4 batteries, which these are.

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Old 02-26-2020, 04:14 PM   #6
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Now that is really interesting, Larry. I never thought of it or heard of it. If you can get actual medical-device batteries, they should be good for the purpose, and not beat to death.

Please straighten me out on one point. Each battery in the video had two black cables hanging out, and the guy just plugged them together. At first I thought these were the battery power cables, and he was connecting the batteries in series. But as the video went on, it became apparent that they are not power cables. Are they control cables that synchronize the Battery Management Systems built into each battery? oes every ium battery have one of these?

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Old 02-26-2020, 04:15 PM   #7
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It is very interesting. I work in a hospital and will see if the engineering guys can hook me up with a couple . They look to be about the same size as the two 6V flooded lead acid ones the dealer sold me a few years ago.

and I just looked up their website: https://lithiumwerks.com/valence-bat...es/rt-modules/
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Old 02-26-2020, 09:46 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MiniMe View Post
It is very interesting. I work in a hospital and will see if the engineering guys can hook me up with a couple . They look to be about the same size as the two 6V flooded lead acid ones the dealer sold me a few years ago.

and I just looked up their website: https://lithiumwerks.com/valence-bat...es/rt-modules/
You LUCKY son of a gun!
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Old 03-12-2020, 10:30 AM   #9
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Default I use LiFePO4.

Your main consideration with LiFePO4 is the going to be the fact that they shouldn't be charged when temperatures are low (near or below freezing). OTOH, if you fully disconnect the batteries from the TM phantom loads, they WILL last the entire winter (with no need to re-charge).

"lithiumwerks" is selling a small battery pack at the wrong Voltage (25.6V, 25Ah). A bigger so-called "12V" battery, actually 12.8V, would be more appropriate and cost less.
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Old 09-17-2022, 08:48 AM   #10
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Not sure if this is relevant, but I've been overhauling my Mini, moving to Lithium. (200ah Lifepo4). It is definitely a different beast, with pro's and cons. You won't be able to use the existing Powermaster system, as it doesn't handle the charge voltage and cutoffs correctly. (You'll damage the battery.) In my case I rewired from the ground up, (as part of a bigger system that integrates Solar and a 50A feed from the car's alternator.) You'll also need to make some small adjustments to be on Lithium's slightly higher voltage as well, like a 12v converter to your propane detector, which maxes as 12.5v. Though other things like the fridge actually run better on the higher voltage. Happy to elaborate as needed.
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